Pittsburgh council asks governor to help clean up city after debate over declaring a state emergency

Councilperson Charland asked Pennsylvania’s governor on Tuesday to send state resources to help remove widespread litter and illegal dumping across Pittsburgh, and City Council approved the request after a lengthy debate and an amendment striking explicit “state of emergency” language.

The request — introduced as a will of council and presented by Councilperson Charland — called on the governor to "render essential the Commonwealth supplementation of municipal resources to remove trash debris from publicly and privately owned land and to restore public health," after noting more than 1,110 illegal dump sites had been identified in Pittsburgh since 2005 and more than 850 had been cleaned, according to Charland’s text read into the record.

Charland framed the issue in public-health and equity terms, saying the accumulation of refuse “damages community health and perceptions, contributes to disorder and curbs economic development leading to disinvestment, especially in low income communities.” He told colleagues, “You’re gonna hear me beat this drum continually, about the state of our city,” and pushed for state help to supplement municipal cleanup efforts.

Opponents and some supporters raised concerns about asking the governor to declare a formal state of emergency for litter. Councilwoman Warwick said she could not support the emergency designation and asked to have her name removed as a sponsor; she added, “I would actually like my name to be removed, not because I don't care about the issue of litter. ... I would like my name to be removed.” Several council members said they supported the goal of more cleanup capacity but worried that the emergency label is reserved for crises such as bridge collapses, major storms or public-health catastrophes.

Council members stressed alternatives and existing work: Councilman Warwick and others pointed to ongoing local programs such as the city’s Clean and Lean initiative and a $456,000 allocation to a neighborhood stewardship program implemented through the public safety department and CEO Works (a workforce development partner) that is conducting multiweek cleanups in neighborhoods including Homewood.

To address those concerns, Councilperson Charland accepted a motion to remove the phrase in his resolution that would have asked the governor to “enact article 4 section 20 declaring the state of litter and trash … to constitute an emergency.” The council voted to strike that language and then approved the will of council, retaining the core request for Commonwealth assistance but without the emergency declaration. The clerk recorded the will of council as approved following that amendment.

Council members who spoke during the floor debate described a mix of responsibilities across jurisdictions — city, county and state roads — and emphasized the need for coordinated action. Councilman Smith (Kale Smith) noted the city already has authority to act on private property in some public-safety circumstances and urged a comprehensive plan tying enforcement, education, volunteer efforts, and expanded city capacity together. Other members urged greater outreach to state and county partners and suggested a coordinated delegation to Harrisburg to press for support.

The will of council also included factual claims read into the record: more than 1,110 illegal dump sites identified since 2005 and more than 850 cleaned. Several members described recurring dumping, concentrations of litter in lower-income neighborhoods, and strains on city resources to sustain volunteer-driven cleanups. Members cited specific neighborhoods affected, including Homewood, Sheridan, the West End and areas along West Carson Street.

The approved, amended will of council does not change local law or authorize direct state action by itself; it is a formal appeal to the governor and Commonwealth agencies to supplement municipal resources and logistics for cleanup. Councilmembers said follow-up steps could include further state engagement, expanded city crews, implementing DPW’s “gold plan” for a dedicated litter crew, expanded education campaigns through the Clean Pittsburgh Commission, and improved enforcement of illegal-dumping rules.

Councilmembers asked city departments to continue coordinating with nonprofit groups and community volunteers already active on cleanups, and some called for a future briefing or Harrisburg visit to clarify what specific equipment, contract help and funding the Commonwealth could provide.

Votes and next steps: After the amendment removing the emergency wording was moved and seconded on the floor, the council approved the amended will of council by voice vote. Members asked staff to continue engagement with state and county partners and to provide updates in committee and future briefings.